French Potato Bake-Potato Gratin

Ingredients

1kg potatoes
300ml pure cream
100ml milk
25gram butter
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:


1.PEEL WASH AND SLICE YOUR POTATOES

Wash and peel your potatoes then slice them using either a mandolin or food processor in 3 to 4 millimeter thick slices. Once the potatoes are sliced, reserve them in a bowl without washing them. this is to preserve the starch that will blend with the cream and act as a binding agent so potatoes stick together.

2.PREPARE YOUR DISH AND MIX THE CREAM AND MILK

Peel the garlic cloves (remove the germ in the middle), then use the garlic clove to rub the inside and coat your dish with a good amount of butter. when the dish is well coated set it aside. pour now the cream and milk in a saucepan mix well and set aside.

3.GARNISH THE DISH WITH POTATOES

Using a small ladle, pour a little bit of the cream mix at the bottom of your dish then fill the dish with 1 layer of sliced potatoes (making sure you cover the entirety of the dish). Season the top of the potatoes with salt, pepper, and a bit of nutmeg. then add a second layer of potato on top. Season again and repeat the process until you have used all of the sliced potatoes. when finished pour all the cream over making sure the cream just about cover the top of potatoes layers. (you can also pour the cream mix bits a time between each layer.

4.BAKE AND SERVE

Place the potato gratin in the oven on the middle tray and bake for 90 to 100 minutes at 150 Celsius or 300 Fahrenheit. When cooked let the gratin cool down for an hour before serving. as a side note, I have noticed that temperature efficiency varies and sometimes you will have to leave your potato gratin in longer than the recommended 90 minutes so don't be afraid of checking by piercing the potatoes with a knife to see how cooked they are. when perfectly cooked the potatoes should not give any resistance or toughness while being cut. a simple round knife should slice through like butter.

NOTE:
The gratin Dauphinois (Potato Gratin) is French specialty from the town of Grenoble and it is made out of top quality potatoes thinly sliced evenly (using a mandolin or food processor) garlic and cream. The authentic gratin dauphinoise never contains cheese. for the optimum result when making it at home it is best cooked in a medium sized dish.